The Secret (Boston's Best 1)

Chapter Twelve

Maddie

Currently, I am sitting in AP Algebra, and currently, I want to kill myself.

Everything that we're doing now I already did last year, maybe even the year before. And as I look around the class I can see that a good few people seem to be struggling.

I thought AP was meant to be hard? My transition year maths class was harder than this.

I mean it's just cubic equations. You sub in, then do long division, then the -b formula, then draw the graph. Mind you they do it differently here but the end result is still the same. It's really not that difficult.

Penelope turns to me, "Hey. What did you get?"

I look at my sheet, "x=0.5, x=-1.8, and x=-4.3. Did you get that?"

"Fuck. No, I didn't. Help me, please? I swear I am useless in algebra. Everything else I'm great at, this is my one fault."

I laugh, "Sure."

We work on that for a few more minutes until the bell rings and Mr Ibrahim calls out to us, "Please put your name and today's date at the top of those sheets! I want to see your progress. Also, I won't be in tomorrow which I know you're all devastated about, but I will be leaving work for you all to do, and I expect it to be completed. See you all on Monday."

"What's today's date?" I ask Penelope.

She grins. "March 31st."

I write it down and hand it to Mr Ibrahim and walk out of the classroom while looking at her, "Why are you grinning like a crazy person?"

"Because it's March 31st."

"Am I supposed to know what that means?"

"Have a guess?"

I shrug, "I don't know. Tomorrow's April Fools Day?"

"No. Well yes. But no." We walk into the cafeteria and sit down at what has become my regular table. "It's my birthday! I'm gonna be 19, how insane is that!"

"Oh my god! It's your birthday tomorrow? How did I not know this?"

She laughs, "Honestly I don't know. I'm surprised you haven't heard people talking about my party."

Alex slides onto the bench beside me and slings his arm over my shoulder, "Pen's parties are always these huge rippers. Everyone goes."

Penelope gasps. "OMG, how idiotic am I? You are more than welcome to come, Maddie. I should've said so instantly."

I smile, "Thank you. I'd love to. But I'm not sure if I have the right kind of clothes for that."

She scoffs, "Please, you're stunning it wouldn't matter what you wear. But you can always come to mine and Brooke's dorm to get ready. Some of the girls on the teams are gonna be there too."

"Well, in that case, I'm coming to yours to get ready too," Alex smirks.

Penelope rolls her eyes at him, "Get over yourself, Alex. The girls have better taste than you." She looks him over, "And more self-respect."

He winks at her, "That's not what Chantelle and Hayley said."

"Disgusting. You're a pig."

"You know you want me."

"Prefiero morir, muchas gracias."

He blows a kiss at her. "I love it when you talk dirty to me."

She ignores him and turns to me. "Anyways. Yes, come over after class tomorrow and we'll all get ready together."